Somebody Worth Killing

by Jessica Payne

Meet Nadia Davis, a doting mom and loving wife who has a big secret: she’s actually an assassin. And she really needs a babysitter who shows up on time.

Nadia Davis is living the dream as a successful working mom with a career she loves, two adorable little girls, and a devoted husband who has no idea that she’s secretly a hired assassin and psychopath who kills certified bad guys. So when Nadia finds out she’s been “mommy tracked” by her assassin’s agency and is no longer getting the bigger, more exciting jobs, she demands an important mark…somebody worth killing.

But it turns out that big kill is the last person she expects—her husband. How is the sweet, kind, teller-of-dad jokes she’s promised her life to an evil villain who needs exterminating? Has their whole life together been a lie? Now Nadia must choose between the two things she loves most in life, the career that keeps her sane or the family she thought she knew.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Audiobook, Suspense, Crime

304 pages, Hardcover

First published June 16, 2026

About the author

Jessica Payne lives in Washington State with her daughter and husband and an internet search history that would raise eyebrows. A firm believer in strong coffee and stronger women, she writes about mothers who know how to handle a sniper rifle and a carpool schedule with equal precision. When she's not writing, you'll find her trail running through the forests of the Pacific Northwest as she plots her next fictional murder. She is the creator of the Substack community One Tired Mother.

Her next novel, Somebody Worth Killing, is coming from Berkley/PRH in June 2026 and is available for pre-order.

Her other novels include Make Me Disappear, The Lucky One, The Good Doctor, and Never Trust the Husband.

Reviews

[MarilynW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somebody Worth Killing by Jessica Payne

I enjoyed this story so much! Being in the head of Nadia Davis was so much fun, so funny and so disturbing. She's the wife of a guy with a boring management type job, a mother of two cute little girls, and a career woman with a job she loves and needs way too much, that of an assassin. Yes, psychopath Nadia thrives on assassining bad people. Her body and brain demand murders and to absolve herself of too much guilt, Nadia will only kill people who deserve killing, that's her only criteria for the murders, that the people are very, very bad people.

Killing bad people and Nadia's husband, Brian, are the two things that keep her from going on a murderous rampage of killing everyone, good and bad. She's loves the feeling of killing but she also loves being a "normal" wife and mom and Brian gives her the sense of normalcy that keeps Nadia on the side (sort of) of being a normal person. Brian is handsome in a Clark Kent kind of way (glasses included), he's smart, he loves telling the corniest of dad jokes, and he keeps Nadia sane. Of course, he has no idea of her non-mommy/wife career and Nadia plans to never let him find out about that side of herself.

Then Nadia finds she's been mommy tracked as an assassin. It seems that the powers that be think she's too soft, too busy as a mommy, to be given the really good and challenging jobs, anymore. Demanding a very VIP mark, someone really worth killing, Nadia finds out she's been given her husband as her VIP mark, and she's assured that he is a very, very bad man. What to do, what to do? Kill the only person keeping her sane, kill the only man she can ever love? But if he's been keeping horrible secrets from her, doing very bad things, he's got to go. Only thing Nadia can do is try to ferret out if her husband is really bad!

I love how the story isn't too OTT. We get to see Nadia going about her mommy duties which are endless and nonstop. Luckily she has some good childcare options although they aren't always available. Nadia and Brian seems so good together, I didn't want this marriage to implode, explode, for Brian to be X-ed out because he is/was a bad guy. There almost seems to be room for another book after this one, there is certainly enough material for it with how interesting Nadia's grandmother is in all of this, but I also would not mind this being a standalone story, either. This book kept me up way too late with not ever finding a place to stop until the very end. This made for a very interesting buddy read with Jayme and DeAnn!

Pub June 16, 2026

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ★

Nadia is such a memorable character, and this was such an addictive, fast-paced read.

I’m SO happy it’s getting a sequel!

In Somebody Worth Killing, Nadia Davis appears to have the perfect life as a wife, mother, and successful career woman but she’s secretly a professional assassin. When her next assigned target turns out to be her own husband, she’s forced to uncover his secrets while deciding between the family she loves and the career she’s built.

While assassin thrillers are typically not the type of thriller I gravitate toward, the premise of this one immediately caught my interest. Similar to First Lie Wins and My Lovely Wife, this story has a strong family and relationship element that makes it much more than simple action and targets. I’m so happy it worked for me as much as I hoped, if not more.

I found Nadia to be the perfect protagonist for this type of thriller. She is a strong, dedicated mother but also a psychopath who channels those urges to kill by working as an assassin who targets people that truly deserve it.

On top of Nadia, a lot of the other characters were equally interesting and complicated. Most of them are neither fully good or fully bad, which is something I always love in the thrillers I read.

My biggest fear with assassin thrillers is that they will be too action-heavy, and I generally don’t enjoy thrillers that focus on nonstop action. This one had the perfect balance.

Nadia is deeply dedicated to both her family and her job, so you really see the importance she places on each. I also liked that many of the assassin scenes focused more on gathering information, planning, and quietly blending in rather than constant shootouts and action sequences. That fit my reading tastes much better.

On top of everything happening throughout the story, I also found myself feeling a wide range of emotions and even laughing at parts. I don’t typically laugh while reading thrillers, but there were moments that were genuinely funny.

The ending revealed enough to leave me satisfied while still making me NEED to read the sequel when it comes out next year.

This wasn’t a 5 star read for me because, while I really enjoyed it, it felt more like a fun and entertaining thriller than one that left a lasting impact on me. That said, I still had a great time reading it.

I definitely recommend checking this one out if you enjoy assassin thrillers or want to try something new that doesn’t stray too far from the typical psychological thriller.

Thank you to Jessica Payne for sending me a copy of this thriller. As always, this review reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.

—

Follow my Bookstagram and BookTok for all things mystery, thriller, and horror novels!

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[Heather Adores Books · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

4.35⭐
Genre ~ contemporary women's fiction, domestic fiction
Setting ~ Texas
Publication date ~ June 16, 2026
Publisher ~ Berkley
Est Page Count ~ 297 (56 chapters)
Audio length ~ 10 hours 14 minutes
Narrator ~ Patti Murin
POV ~ single 1st, present tense
Featuring ~ grandparent with dementia

Nadia is our professional assassin, but she's also a great wife and mom to 2 adorable girls. Tired of just doing small, easy hits she's ready to branch out and asks her handler for a big job. She's thrilled until she finds out the big fish is her husband, Brian, and she's offered a pretty penny to enf his life.

But why would there be a hit on her dotting and perfect husband? Does she really not know the person she has been spending the last decade with? Well I suppose she has secrets, so it's quite possible he does, too. With the help from a fellow assassin friend she'll soon find out what the old hubsters been hiding.

Y'all this was great! It was fast paced, just how I like 'em. I was fully engaged throughout anf couldn't wait to find out the hub's fate. Also, loved her relationship with her grandma. It was sweet and sad, and intriguing. I'm so hoping for a sequel because there's definitely more to the story and I want it ASAP!

Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the above info for reference.


Thanks Berkley for the ARC!

[Jaime Fok · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just ok for me. I was SO excited to pick this one up as a fun, light but thrilling read - the Mr & Mrs Smith vibe of it all really intrigued me!

I will say, our protagonist Nadia was interesting to read at points. There was this dichotomy in her character where she was trying to balance the two sides of herself. One - being this ruthless assassin for hire with this constant urge to kill. And two - being a wife & a mother, and genuinely caring for her family. We had some fun moments where she would be shopping at Costco, while plotting her next kill on her phone. So I loved seeing her trying to balance the two!

This was also a fun, creative way to tell a story about inequality in gender & wages in the workforce, with Nadia hitting the proverbial glass ceiling, and finally coming to that realization. Loved seeing that tie into the story!

However, somehow this 300ish page book felt SO long. I think this came down to a lot of repetition of the exact same thoughts in Nadia's head. We repeated many of the same thoughts over and over again, without introducing something new. And this made the book drag quite a bit for me.

I think this one also just fell into the trap of feeling just a bit too unrealistic for me. Like was this book with this premise ever going to be entirely realistic? Of course not. But some of the ways in which Nadia was doing her job just felt way too unrealistic and simplified for me to the point where I couldn't suspend my disbelief anymore.

Overall, an OK read. Fun at times - but didn't do much for me in the long run.

[꧁ ༺Minne༻ ꧂ (Back :)) · Rating 3 out of 5]

★ ★ ★1/2

Well, that was… something.

There’s no way to soft launch this one, so here goes.

Meet Nadia, a high-functioning psychopath who satisfies her urge to kill by working as an assassin. Her morals are rooted in vigilantism: she only kills bad people, so in her mind she isn't a serial killer. She's providing a service, getting filth off the streets. The first man she kills is her friend’s college boyfriend. His crime? He hit her. At this point, it's clear we're not doing any of that "let the punishment fit the crime" nonsense. No second chances, no apologies, no do-overs. You step wrong, you die. But let's not dwell on what makes her qualified to decide who deserves to live or die because that’s a whole other can of warms.

To everyone else, Nadia is a loving wife to Brian, a mother of two girls, and a businesswoman. Her domestic life serves as the perfect cover for her extracurricular activities. Though she genuinely loves her ordinary life, she also needs to be an assassin to sustain it. She needs to kill to keep the monster at bay and appear normal. It's a fascinating contradiction. I still can’t decide if I liked being in her head or not because she is uniquely and spectacularly messed up. She's narcissistic, manipulative, and more than a little megalomaniacal, appointing herself judge, jury, and executioner. Woe is me because I think she’s sweet too.

When Nadia realises she's probably hit the proverbial “glass ceiling” and is being passed over for jobs because she's a wife and mother, she pushes back and lands a high-profile assignment. Unfortunately, some doors are better left unopened because her new target turns out to be her husband, Brian. Which raises a few questions.

Who is Nadia's husband, really? What did he do to warrant a death sentence? And who wants him dead?

To Nadia, this is a catastrophe because now the two worlds she has worked so hard to keep separate are about to collide. She also has to deal with what this job means for her because, despite all her claims of being incapable of feeling, one thing is clear: she loves her husband.

For a while I was so hooked, I needed answers. Then the book started to lose me a bit in the final third. Nadia is supposed to be a highly competent killer and tracker, but once Brian becomes her target, she spends far more time speculating and spiraling in her own head than actually investigating. Instead of actively trying to uncover the truth herself, she trusts third party information and shows us how gullible she really is. For a character who is portrayed as intelligent, calculating, and ruthlessly efficient, some of her decisions felt inconsistent. It feels like she was stripped of her "cool badge" for absolutely no reason, and it made the plot lose some of its coherence for me.

The ending makes sense and at the same time it doesn’t. Unconditional love is all good and fine, I just think Nadia is too volatile. She’s a bomb waiting to go off and one day she’s going to blow everyone’s head off. Literally.

There has to be a name for how I’m feeling right now, I just don’t know it. If I had to explain it, I would use the words: entertained, a bit underwhelmed, with a lot of side-eye and a dash of DA HELL?

[Holly B · Rating 4 out of 5]

An assassin that is in need of a babysitter!! 😲

The mom and wife, Nadia was truly "killing it" in this one! She has two lives and believes that she really is a "good person". She has an agency and a record of her success, but now she craves MORE. She was kind of the odd one growing up and it was a relief when her family learned she was getting married and having kids. They thought for sure that this would settle her down.

Nadia enjoys being an assassin though, she will just keep it to herself.

Then, a big job comes in, the one Nadia has been asking for and she agrees to "take it".

Be careful what you wish for, or ask for in this case.

She wants to be worth her salt and the payout is a good one. She isn't all that nervous though because after all she is a psychopath!!

This one was had some unexpected surprises, some suspenseful moments and a bit of a cozy murder/Finlay Donovan type vibe for me. Hoping it will be a series!

Thanks to NG for my ARC / OUT on June 16,2026

[Kaceey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stand by for a fun thriller!
Nadia is a full time wife and mother… and a part time assassin!
Betcha’ didn’t see that coming did you!?
But shhh!🤫 She keeps that little secret all to herself. Her husband doesn’t even have a clue.

To be clear, Nadia doesn’t go around randomly killing just anyone. Her handler gives her assignments to kill specific people. Individuals who…well, quite frankly deserve it!💁🏼‍♀️ They are bad people!😉
But Nadia isn’t satisfied with the jobs she’s been given. She wants to be assigned to a bigger, more high value kill. (You go girl!).

Careful what you wish for! Because once you accept the job…there’s no turning back!

This was fun! Every once in a while I enjoy a light thriller. Nothing dark. One that doesn’t take itself too seriously. A popcorn thriller! 🍿

This fit the bill perfectly. Loved Nadia as she battled her inner-self in only the way a sociopath can do!

Thank you Jayme for the book recommendation🙌

✍️ Jessica Payne
📄 304 pages
🗓️ Anticipated release date: June 16 2026
📈 4/5🌟🌟🌟🌟
👉 Thriller-lite, humor

Thank you Berkley Publishing via NetGalley

[Melissa (Always Behind) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually pretty good! Set up for a sequel.

This was a really fun read. Nadia Davis is a devoted wife and mother--and she's secretly an assassin. She finds out that she's been passed by for some more lucrative jobs, most likely because she's a mom. This frustrates Nadia so she reaches out to her handler and asks for something higher stakes and higher risk. Much to her surprise, her mark turns out to be her husband Brian. But who would want her bland management consultant husband dead? Who is Brian, really?

I thought this book was just such an enjoyable read. It's fast paced, the characters are interesting and likeable. I kept turning pages because I wanted to know what on earth was going on. I was rewarded because on one hand, it is a unique and really satisfying ending, but on the other hand there are still some threads that are left hanging and are ripe for a sequel to give the reader the big picture.

If you're looking for a well-written, creative thriller, you should definitely pick this one up. I can't wait to see what happens next.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

[suspenseisthrillingme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wooeee! A wild, slump-busting ride from beginning to end, Jessica Payne somehow managed to blend a domestic suspense-slash-psychological thriller with deeply satirical dark comedy in Somebody Worth Killing to produce a book that was utterly impossible to put down. Fast-paced and action-packed but also laugh-out-loud funny, the almost lighthearted side to this genre-bender of a tale made me positively weak in the knees. You see, somehow it took the Dexter-like vibes and gave it a very Finlay Donovan feel for a finished product that I utterly loved. It was the satirical take on this morally gray—albeit psychopathic—killer, however, that had me thinking about this one long after closing the cover. Exploring identity, family, morality, and the balancing act of motherhood through the lens of a “mommy-tracked” assassin, it delivered razor-sharp insight alongside all of the fun. Quite the brilliant combo, if I do say so myself.

So what else blew me away about this one-sitting read? Well, not only was it dark, twisted, and deliciously unhinged, but the fact that there were secret double lives, a husband hiding something of his own, and all of that murder and mayhem had my attention from page one. Taking us on an adrenaline-fueled ride of über-high stakes mixed with regular-suburban-mom chores, I couldn’t get enough of the almost Mr. and Mrs. Smith-like vibe oozing off the pages. After all, each of the characters in this unputdownable read are just the right amount of crazy as they try to survive the cat-and-mouse games. So if you’re a fan of Elle Cosimano, Katy Brent, or Deanna Raybourn, you should definitely give this one a try. Packed with feminist rage, suburban chaos, and crave-able characters, it was the perfect palate cleanser between my more hard-hitting thrillers all while delivering some definite food for thought. Rating of 4.75 stars (upgraded).

P.S. Please oh please tell me there’s a sequel coming soon, Ms. Payne??? I need to know what happens next to these unforgettable characters in this twisty tale!

SYNOPSIS:

Nadia Davis is living the dream as a successful working mom with a career she loves, two adorable little girls, and a devoted husband who has no idea that she’s secretly a hired assassin and psychopath who kills certified bad guys. So when Nadia finds out she’s been “mommy tracked” by her assassin’s agency and is no longer getting the bigger, more exciting jobs, she demands an important mark…somebody worth killing.

But it turns out that big kill is the last person she expects—her husband. How is the sweet, kind, teller-of-dad jokes she’s promised her life to an evil villain who needs exterminating? Has their whole life together been a lie? Now Nadia must choose between the two things she loves most in life, the career that keeps her sane or the family she thought she knew.

Thank you Jessica Payne and Berkley Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: June 16, 2026

Content warning: dementia, murder, stalking, gun and knife violence, blood, infidelity, kidnapping, violence, mention of: domestic abuse

[Izzie (on pause) McFussy · Rating 5 out of 5]

”I often have RKF, or resting killer face.”

4.5⭐️

: ̗̀⁍ Read into the wee hours.

: ̗̀⁍ Put two and two together.

: ̗̀⁍ Fought the urge to jump to the last chapter.

: ̗̀⁍ Felt anxious as if an oxygen mask dropped from an overhead compartment due to severe turbulence.

: ̗̀⁍ Bought the t-shirt:

ᡕᠵデᡁ᠊╾━ I was Played by Jessica Payne! 𖣨



🌹My thanks to MarilynW for her early review🌹

[CatsBnB · Rating 5 out of 5]

BANGER ALERT!!! Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

What an addictive, engrossing, compelling, and wildly entertaining psychological thriller! I've read three books by Jessica Payne now, and all three have been five star reads. The Good Doctor and Never Trust the Husband were both absolute favorites, and Jessica Payne is officially an auto-buy author for me.

Nadia is a loving wife and mother who genuinely believes she's a good person. She just happens to have a little side job as a part-time psychopath and assassin.😂 Nadia has her own moral code of only killing people she believes are truly horrible. But now that she's a mom, her handler thinks she's gone soft. So, Nadia decides to prove them wrong by taking on a HUGE assignment.

There's just one problem!

Her target is her husband-the one person who keeps her sane.

But is he keeping secrets of his own? Is he really the man Nadia thinks he is? Has their entire life together been a lie? And if he really is a terrible person, will Nadia be able to carry out the assignment?

Consider yourself warned!! Once you start this book, you will NOT want to stop. I could not put it down. So please, learn from my mistake and do not start this one in the evening. You will not want to stop reading, and yes, I lost sleep over this one.😂

Also, have your snacks and drinks ready because you won't even want to get up for a bathroom break!

I loved the short chapters and the fast paced, action packed storytelling. There was tension, suspense, secrets, twists, and complicated characters I actually found myself liking. I loved that it was a lighter thriller and not so dark. It made this such a fun, entertaining read while still delivering all the suspense I wanted.

And that ending? Was so satisfying. Although I have to admit, it left me wondering if there might be more to the story. A sequel ?? 👀

This is a popcorn thriller for sure. The kind of book you devour, lose sleep over, and immediately want to tell everyone about. Jessica Payne has done it again!! I highly recommend and it deserves ALL the stars!!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica Payne is amazing!! Her books just keep getting better and better. I seriously couldn’t stop reading Somebody Worth Killing. It is fun, quirky and so addictive. If you haven’t read her books before you are missing out. Always surprising, always dark but of so much fun to read.

Nadia is a mum, a wife to Brian, on the PTA and a successful event planner. At least that is what she wants people to think. In reality, Nadia has a huge secret… she is a hired assassin and kills bad people. When she discovers that she has been given the easier assignments because she is a woman and a mum, she demands a big kill. And she gets one…and she can’t believe who the target is.

I loved Nadia, she is one badass woman. Killing grounds her, lets her feel normal. But she won’t kill for the sake of it, it has to be somebody who deserves it. She loves her family and will do anything for them. It was so entertaining to see her juggle everything without getting caught out.

Trust me, you are going to want this one. June 16th is the publication day so get it on your TBR.

Thank you so much to Berkeley Publishing and Jessica for my early access to this amazing book. It is a favourite with us all at Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse and if you love a good thriller it will be one of yours too,

[Michelle (Shell’s Plot Twists) · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a while since a book had me furiously turning pages, unable to put down for 4 straight hours until Somebody Worth Killing! There is something about a badass female assaisin who pretends to be an everyday mom and wife that is just so fun to read! Meet Nadia, a 30 something, married to Brian, a management consultant, living in Texas with two children, Evie and Eliza who pretends to be a wedding planner. Let's just say she has no clue how to plan any kind of party much less a wedding! But she does know how to plan out her next kill!

My favorite quote:
"It's a wonder stay-at-home moms don't start killing people out of monotony or lack of adult conversation. I have to leave out all the interesing bits like "I got a new gun, and it's so cool!" ~Nadia

Nadia is a psychopath who craves killing people and she fights "her" every day while trying to be a good mom and good person. But the monster inside of her is always there and always wanting to kill. Nadia is bored with her recent assignments and asks her handler John, to give her some "big jobs". Be careful what you ask for, isn't that what they say?

She gets her first "big job" and is so excited to find out who her mark is, until she starts following them one day and notices that she recognizes this person. It's her husband, Brian. Uh, oh! :0

Who did she marry? What has he done? How can she kill the father of her children? Does she do it?

This story seems like it's going to take you in one direction and then bam! The author adds a few twists and it's a cat and mouse chase until the end! And I have to add that there are some fun side characters too like Grandma Betty. Ifykyk ;)

If you like Mr. And Mrs. Smith, Dexter, or Role Play, you will enjoy this story!

Do you have to suspend some amount of disbelief? Duh! She's a hired assaisain, this isn't real life, but it IS super fun and entertaining to read!!!

And good news, the author has already said that book #2 will be out next year!

I give this 4.5 stars rounded up!

[R L HERSKOWITZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Nadia needs to join Assassins Anonymous (my opinion). 🤣

Nadia is a mom, wife & event planner.
Most people believe she’s a wedding planner. Nadia only plans death, she’s an assassin.

Nadia only kills “bad” people because she has her own rules & morals.

Fast paced.
Well written.
Creative/original.
Great twist.

I highly recommend Somebody Worth Killing!

[Victoria.thatsit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dexter meets Good Girls. Such a great time! If you’re looking for something to get you out of a reading slump, look no further.

[Liralen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nadia is good at what she does. Officially, that's wedding planning—but unofficially? She takes the bad guys down. Violently. And if if just so happens that this aligns with her need for destruction, well, at least it's for a good cause. There's just one problem: She's pretty sure she's been mommy-tracked...and when she demands a bigger job, the target turns out to be none other than her husband.

The Mr. and Mrs. Smith vibes are real in this one, and I am here for it. It's quite distinct, not to fear, but it's playful and fast-moving and, frankly, who hasn't wanted a secret room hidden inside their closet? Nadia also makes for a fascinating main character: She doesn't experience the world the same way most people around her do, not the world or emotions or relationships. That doesn't mean that she doesn't have emotions or relationships, or that they aren't healthy...but it informs the way she sees the world and the way she interacts with it.

Honestly, I'd be delighted if this became a series. No spoilers, but much of the book is about Nadia figuring out who her husband is—it becomes clear early on that he is not in fact who he says he is, any more than she is—but what she ultimately finds out has major implications for her actions throughout the book, as well as anything that might happen in any theoretical books. There are so many directions this could go in, and quite a lot of characters who could provide fodder for future books.

Very good fun—if you're into a bit of tongue-and-cheek assassin action, this is very much a book for you.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.

[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited to start Somebody Worth Killing. Sounded like such a fun premise.

Was this only 304 pages? It felt like a lot longer. Nadia is supposed to be some stealthy assassin, but she didn’t seem stealthy at all in any of her assignments. She got worse when the big important target she requested ends up being her husband. This is not a spoiler, it’s in the book description, so I kept waiting for this to be revealed. Had to slog through a good chunk (like 35% mark?) while Nadia does pick up and drop off of her kids, does a PTA meeting, and makes visits to various relatives. When she finally receives her assignment instead of doing a deep dive into her husband (she does a cursory internet search while shopping at Costco!), Nadia’s ruminating on so many useless things. How about figure out if he’s actually a bad guy first? I kept waiting for some solid sleuthing and big reveals.

It was clear what the bad guy's motives were, to me anyhow, yet his motives are still unclear to Nadia at the end. The story wrapped up in an unsatisfying way, setting things up for a sequel. Lots of things are not explained.

I voluntarily read a copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can*]

Won via goodreads giveaways , all my opinions are my own.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

DNF, eh not for me.. this should have been a shorter book or a novella.

Someone will probably end up making this a movie 🎬 is my guess.

[Celeste | bookrecs_by_celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author Jessica Payne for my gifted copy of Somebody Worth Killing. All opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself with this one! I read it in one sitting because I just could not put it down! The plot was so unique and paired so well with the dark humor throughout. I was laughing out loud at some parts!

Nadia is a fantastic mother , loving wife , and career woman. There’s just one huge secret that Nadia is hiding….shes an assassin. When she gets a huge job she’s ready to stop at nothing to finish it until she realizes that her latest hit is on her very own husband. Not only does Nadia have to hide her true self in her day to day life she must now grapple with the task of killing her husband.

This was laugh out loud funny! I absolutely loved Nadia’s inner monologues of soccer mom by day and assassin by night.

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story 4.25 stars. Narration 4.5 stars
I couldn’t be more shocked that I ended up really liking this book. Seriously, I’d read good reviews so I thought I’d try it as I could always DNF it but I never thought about doing that at any point. It was a really quick listen that I could barely quit listening to. And more importantly, I was on the edge of my seat more than I ever thought possible.

Everything you ever wondered about psychopaths is pretty much explained in this listen about a woman that’s a wife and mother of two under five years old. She’s also a psychopath that can only keep her monster at bay by killing about once a month and only proven bad guys. When she asks for a bigger hit, she receives her next case only to find out it’s her own husband. She’s shocked and must figure out what her husband could possibly be doing to qualify for a hit being taken out on him.

I can’t say much more due to spoilers and even what I’ve said is pretty much covered in the blurb. Other than the fact the main character is an assassin, I kind of liked her as a character-not that she was a good character, but she certainly was interesting to say the least. There’s also a well written bad guy and some sweet children. Her psychopath grandmother with Alzheimer’s added to the story as well. I should mention that I only watched Dexter once and never again. If you liked Dexter this might be one for you to try-with much less gore. I do think it’s definitely an adult read/listen.

[ᒪᗴᗩᕼ · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

• My Rating: 4.25/5 •

Try this if you like:
• domestic suspense
• suburban noir
• fast-paced popcorn thrills
• assassin for hire who’s also a mom
• dark humor
• Dexter-like female psychopath
• single POV

Notes: While some aspects are difficult to swallow, it wouldn’t be a popcorn thriller if there weren’t. It was super fun, didn't take itself too seriously, and I easily lost myself in the story. The ending is quite abrupt and leaves some elements dangling, but no worries; I was on the author’s site and saw that there’s a second book coming.
Narration: Patti Murin’s narration was sufficient.

[Susan Z (webreakforbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second book by Jessica Payne and I loved it.

It's crazy. It's good. It's crazy good! I couldn't turn the pages quick enough. Short snappy chapters propelled me forward. It was so entertaining.

I also loved the title and how it connected to the story! Quite creative.

Jessica Payne is a must read author and I am excited to tackle her backlist.

[Ahmed Ismail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one!
I highly recommend it!
Full review to come soon!

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

To most people Nadia Davis looks like the typical suburban mom dropping her kids off at the drop-off line of their private school and then doing a Costco run in her Lululemon attire.
Behind her cover as a wedding consultant, she’s actually an assassin.
Unlike most assassins, she won’t just kill anyone.
She prides herself on her “morals” and will only kill particularly bad people (i.e. those who kill or cause some sort of serious harm to innocent people).

Despite killing people for a living (and satisfying an urge to kill that she’s had for her entire life), Nadia is a likable person.
In her line of work you don’t really have friends, but she definitely loves her husband, daughters and siblings.
She also has a particular special love for her grandmother, who has Alzheimer’s and only recognizes Nadia about half of the time.

Her husband Brian has a job as a management consultant and when someone asks Nadia what he does, as she tries to describe his job she realizes that she doesn’t really know what he does aside from wearing suits to work in an office building and regularly traveling on business trips.

This is a book where nothing is quite the way it appears and everyone has a secret or two.
I definitely had memories of watching Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt in Mr. And Mrs. Smith as I read certain parts of this book.

I also love the cover of this book that perfect reflects Nadia’s “don’t F with me” personality.

This was a fun read and nearly every fairly short chapter ending in a way that made you want to continue on to the next.
Had I not been busy with other things in life I could have finished this in a day or two.
This would be a great start to a series, or is at least a primed for a sequel based on how it ends.
I definitely recommend this as an entertaining suburban thrillerish type read or for anyone who enjoys cat-and-mouse games.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for proving me with an ARC to review.

Pub Date: June 16, 2026 (which makes this a great beach read!)

[Cindy(groundedinreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nadia has created the appearance that she is an average working mom by volunteering at her children’s school and running her own business. But in the shadows, she’s a hired assassin! When she gets an offer on a big hit, she re-evaluates everything! The target doesn’t fit her criteria of only eliminating BAD people and soon discovers that she’s not the only one keeping secrets. Nadia’s passion for her job as well as her family shines through in this suspenseful thriller! I really enjoyed the fast pace and how Nadia craved for a balance of work and family. She’s a witty character and I would love this turn into a series!

[Lisa Kusel]

Kindled. Thank you, NetGalley, for the advance read.

A fun popcorn thriller that helped distract me from the woes of the world. Much of the plotline was hard to swallow on a rational level, and the ending was so abrupt I thought my kindle was broken, but the mc's voice was sharp, strong, and snarky enough to keep me flipping pages.

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somebody Worth Killing
By: Jessica Payne
Pub Date: June 16, 2026
Publisher: Berkley

I love all of Payne’s books, BUT this is my new FAVORITE!

This novel is based in Texas, which I loved because I recognized/loved the setting.

A couple who has secrets and they are CRAZY! The mom Naida is a mom by day and a secret assassin the rest of the time. She claims to only kill bad guys, but one day she gets hired to take care of someone she knows.

Her husband is the target! What the HECK! How can she do this? Her husband is a great person and is kind. She LOVES him, but when she hears something out of character, SHE has to PROVE he is NOT a good guy! She won’t carry out this unless she can prove he is not who she thinks he is.

He has his own secrets, and let me tell you I was completely stumped with who he truly was. I would love to see these characters again, HINT HINT Payne!

[♥ Sandi ❣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars Thanks to BookBrowse for sending me this ARC and NetGalley for the download. Publishes on June 16, 2026

I enjoyed this book more than I ever thought I would. The protagonist quietly and quickly grows on you. A wife, a mom, works with the PTA, visits her Gramma in a nursing home, and all the while hides the fact that she is an assassin. Worried that she has been 'mommy-tracked' - Nadia requests a 'big' job and once she gets it her troubles really begin!

This book could very easily be the beginning of a great series. The one downfall I found was the ending. I thought it was weak and seems to be rather abrupt in comparison to the rest of the story. Some of the story details were not fully fleshed out in the end, in my opinion, more just noted in passing.

[Brittany Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll start by saying that if Jessica Payne writes it, I’ll be reading it. And this one is probably one of my favorites! Totally unlike so many thrillers about assassins because she’s a MOM, which puts a whole new spin on things and sits right with my mom heart. Expectations of mothers is different than that of dads, usually being the default parent. I get that and feel that deep in my bones. But this mom is a little different, because after the kids and husband go to bed, she’s out there killing bad guys. Being a psychopath and a mother really makes for an interesting story. But when she asks for bigger jobs after being turned down for so many because she’s a mom, nobody could foresee the contract that was waiting for her. From there, the story just gets better, twistier, and more exciting! By the end of the book, I couldn’t even put it down to make my kids dinner because I just had to keep reading to see who really put the contract out!? This book is action packed and keeps the reader totally enthralled until the last page. It’s perfect for any thriller lover out there and especially for the moms!

Thank you to Jessica Payne, Berkley Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review!

[gottalottie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was so poorly written, lots of telling not showing, very repetitive, you see the premise from the blurb? The entire book is her speculating why her husband would be a target and talking about the monster inside her that needs to kill and reemphasizes that she’s a psychopath. It was so dumb. One point she kept talking about the monster and I fast forwarded a little and she was still talking about it! I felt embarrassed to be listening to it. Honestly this could’ve been a 50 page short story written by a middle schooler. Lots of little boring interactions that serve no purpose. And then on top of that, so many things didn’t make sense about the actual plot. all these bad things were obvious from the beginning, I should’ve DNFed